New York Rising meeting tonight in Schenectady

The NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in Elston Hall at the Schenectady County Community College.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in this public open house, which is part of the program's effort to garner local input about how to help communities impacted by Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and Superstorm Sandy. The reconstruction program was unveiled in April by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Community Reconstruction Zones for Montgomery, Schenectady, Schoharie and Saratoga counties are each eligible for around $3 million in federal grants. Each community will convene a committee of elected representatives, local residents and business leaders that will draft a plan that must be approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.